Rotating band



Nov. 30,1948. H. H. HIMMER ROTATING am; Filed April 23, 1945 Harald -H'imfi'ler Patented Nov. 30, 1948 UNITED STATES v l i n 2,454,301 a ROTATINrB ND Harold-f n. flimmerfikberdeen," V imitation-mu 23, 1945, Serial No. 589,829

.Lqlaifms. (01: mass) wtGranted under the act of March 33 2883,: as

amended April 30, 1928 ','-3"i'l): 0. G.':75.7)

"The' inventi'on' described herein maybe manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to an improved construction of rotating band for projectiles and more particularly to a rotating band having a forward section of gilding metal and a rear section of rotating band construction, as heretofore described, which will increase the life of a weapons bore by improved obturation and reduced mechanical wear.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a projectile equipped with the improved rotating band;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in side elevation, showing the rotating band in an applied position; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view showing a part of the improved rotating band in engagement with a weapons bore and taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, 5 designates generally a large caliber projectile which is provided with a rotating band groove 6 adjacent its rear end. A rotating band 1, formed of gilding metal or the like,.is mounted in the groove 6 and extends from the forward end thereof to adjacent the rear end of said groove.

The invention comprises a rotating band seetion 8 which is formed of steel and which engages the rear portion of the groove 6 and which is disposed directly behindthe usual rotating band i and preferably in abutting engagement therewith. As best seen in Fig. 2, the steel band section 8 is provided with a relatively wide base and with side walls which taper toward its periphery,

- The periphery 10f- -the' slightlysmaller in diameter than the diameter "of thedargest portion of *the rotating -band 'l ,-'-as grooves I I.

By forming the rotating band 8 of a slightly softer metal than the barrel 9, it will be readily apparent that the lands It) will engrave themselves in the band 8 and that portions of said band will extend into the grooves I I for effectively supporting the projectile 5, during its movement through the barrel 9, to prevent oscillation thereof, and to thereby provide increased accuracy and to reduce wear on the barrel 9. The copper or gilding metal, of which the rotating band i is formed, will act as a partial lubricant between the steel band 8 and the lands ill so that the mechanical wear on the barrel 9, caused by the lands thereof engraving the band 8, will be less than the wear produced by said lands [0 engraving the body of the projectile 5, which would occur if the steel band 8 were omitted.

Obviously, if desired, the projectile 5 could be provided with a rotating band adjacent both ends of the cylindrical portion of its body, by merely providing another groove 6 and an additional rotating band 1 and 8.

Various other modifications and changes are likewise contemplated and may obviously be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims, as only a preferred embodiment thereof has been disclosed.

I claim:

1. In combination with a rotating band of gilding metal for a projectile; a steel band mounted on the projectile and directly behind the rotating band, said steel band being of a smaller external diameter than the rotating band and of a greater diameter than the projectile.

2. In combination with a rotating band of gilding metal for a projectile; a steel band mounted on the projectile and directly behind the rotating band, said steel band being formed of a softer metal than the bore of a weapons barrel through 3 which the projectile is adapted to be fired, and being of a greater diameter than the lands thereof, to-support the projectile axially in the bore so that the steel band and not the projectile body will be engraved by the bore lands.

3. A rotating band for projectiles comprising a forward section of gilding metal or the like, and a rear band section of steel, disposed directly behind the forward band section, and being of a slightly smaller external diameter than that of the forward section, the external diameter of said steel rotating band section being greater than the internal diameter of the weapons bore, measured across the lands, from which the projectile is fired.

4. A rotating band for projectiles comprising a forward section of gilding metal or the like, and

a rear band section of steel, disposed directly behind the forward band section, and being of a; slightly smaller external diameter than that of the forward section, the external diameter of said steel rotating band section being greater than the internal diameter of the weapons bore, measured across the lands, from which the projectile is fired, and slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the weapons bore, measured from the beds of the grooves, and said steel band section being of a softer metal than the weapons bore. HAROLD H. HIMMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 10 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 168,318 Butler Oct. 5, 1875 15 998,711 McNair July 25, 1911 1,356,840 Ulrich Oct. 26, 1920 2,345,619 Moore Apr. 4, 1944 r FOREIGN PATENTS 20 Number Country Date Germany Feb. 10, 1920 

